Sunday, January 19, 2014

Just in time for Valentine’s Day comes Sweetheart 2014, a collection of indelible, handpicked covers from a remarkable group of modern musical dreamers who artfully grapple, in one way or another, with that most vexing of subject to ever befall mankind, L.O.V.E. Sweetheart 2014 is an adventurous Valentine’s Day collection featuring Jim James, Vampire Weekend, Fiona Apple, Phosphorescent, Brandi Carlile, Beck, The Head and the Heart, Ben Harper, Sharon Jones & the Dap-Kings, Valerie June, Blake Mills, Bahamas and Thao & The Get Down Stay Down.

Sweetheart 2014 (Hear Music/Concord Music Group) will be available on CD exclusively at Starbucks and all digital outlets beginning February 4th, 2014. Sound clips available (including Brandi Carlile's cover of "The Chain") at the Sweetheart website.

Matthew Sweet & Susanna Hoffs cover "Trouble"

Matthew Sweet and Susanna Hoffs tackle the 80's in volume 3 of their cover albums series. Lindsey Buckingham's "Trouble" is included on this one with Susanna taking the lead. Sounds great and close to the original. Check out the sample at Amazon and get the album if you like. Also available at iTunes.

You may recall that on Volume 2 back in 2009 Matthew and Susanna covered Fleetwood Mac's "Second Hand News".

Res - Refried Mac

Soul singer RES and producer Tim Spiker rework Fleetwood Mac and Stevie Nicks classics: Rhiannon, Dreams, The Chain, Little Lies and Edge of Seventeen on this 5 track EP that was released late last year.

Res has a beautiful voice and really takes these four Fleetwood Mac tracks, plus one solo Stevie Nicks track to a different place injecting a funky vibe, a lush chorus (Rhiannon) and infectious beats (Edge of Seventeen and The Chain) that harkens back to early '90's Red Hot Chilli Peppers. I especially love the stripped down reinterpretation of Dreams driven by a what sounds like a ticking clock and a finger popping bass line.

"Crapfest of production gimmicks?" Really? This is about as stripped down as you can get--an absolute bare minimum of production. Just say you like the original better and leave it at that. Res is an amazing singer. I suggest listening to her original music before judging.

Side note: Yes, she's Black. No, she's not a "soul singer" and has spent her whole career trying to escape that stupid label. Putting artists in boxes based on skin color, clothing style or any other superficial thing is just retarded.

Um....yes, it is a crapfest of production gimmicks. You write as if these were unplugged acoustic/piano versions. It's ALL processed and computerized and for you to claim otherwise is just a lie. I'll accept that they were thrown together fast and without much care or thought, but a "minimum of production?"

I don't care what label you place on her - she's mediocre - the voice isn't a "show voice" and the phrasing isn't subtle or sophisticated enough that it works as a thinking person's song.

They're all bad - and sorry if you represent her - it must be frustrating.

FLEETWOOD MAC NEWS ON FACEBOOK

In April, 2013 New York Times Author Anthony Bozza began working with legendary drummer Mick Fleetwood on his life story, which will span the entire history of the band that bears his name.

In this candid, intimate portrait of a life lived in music, Mick Fleetwood sheds new light on well-known points in his history, including many incredible moments of recording and touring with Fleetwood Mac, as well as personal insights from a man who has been a major player in blues and rock 'n' roll since his teens.

The group Fleetwood Mac has sold over 140 million records worldwide, and they continue to attract a huge following, selling out their biggest arena tour ever in 2013, decades after their debut. Finally, the group's admirers will have a unique portrait of what made Mick and the rest of the group tick in the midst of their massive success and personal trials.

“Most of these songs were written between 1969 and 1987. One was written in 1994 and one in 1995. I included them because they seemed to belong to this special group. Each song is a lifetime. Each song has a soul. Each song has a purpose. Each song is a love story… They represent my life behind the scenes, the secrets, the broken hearts, the broken hearted and the survivors. These songs are the memories - the 24 karat gold rings in the blue box. These songs are for you,” commented Nicks.

NEW ALBUM IN THE WORKS
Christine was a guest on the Ken Bruce radio program on BBC Radio 2 and was featured each morning between Oct 7th and 11th choosing the "Tracks of My Years". Each day included a short interview clip with Christine along with her track choice and why. During the last day Christine revealed that she's currently working on new material and hopefully a forthcoming solo album saying its a return to her musical sound of the 70's.